Phillies Notes: Ruben Amaro standing pat for now

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Last March, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. was busy tinkering. He pursued veterans Nomar Garciaparra and Gary Sheffield to augment the bench, traded for lefthanded reliever Jack Taschner, and added rotation depth by signing Rodrigo Lopez to a minor-league deal.

This spring, the general manager is focused on players in his own camp.

"Not right now," Amaro said yesterday when asked if he was actively pursuing any minor trades or signings. "At a certain point, you have to just see what you have."

Jamie Moyer and Kyle Kendrick are competing for the fifth spot in the starting rotation. If both fail, Amaro said, he would be content to have Ryan Vogelsong, Drew Carpenter, Joe Savery, and Jose Contreras behind them.

Amaro also remains optimistic that the group of young lefthanded relievers, including Antonio Bastardo, Sergio Escalona, and Mike Zagurski, will provide enough depth to make a trade or signing unnecessary.

Manager Charlie Manuel said centerfielder Shane Victorino would not play in tonight's exhibition against Florida State. Victorino has mild soreness in his right shoulder. He played long toss at 120 feet yesterday and worked in the batting cage.

Manuel said he considered using Victorino as the designated hitter, but decided to grant a full day's rest instead.

Phillippe Aumont, the centerpiece of the trade that sent Cliff Lee to Seattle in December, is scheduled to pitch tonight after starter J.A. Happ.

The 21-year-old righthander said he would focus on honing his mechanics and pitches. Aumont is known for a power sinker; he also throws a four-seam fastball, a curveball, and a change-up. He considers the curveball a strength and the change-up a work in progress.

"The change-up is a feel pitch," he said. "Either you get it or you don't, and if you don't, it will take you a while. It seems like lefties get it right away, and it's a little harder for righties."

Aumont also said he would try to develop his pitches without feeling pressure to succeed immediately, despite his importance to the members of the organization and his role in the controversial Lee trade.

"They know what I am capable of," he said. "They know what I need to work on. Obviously, though, you could have fans or other players saying, 'Oh, look at this guy. This guy got traded for Cliff Lee. He's not worth it.'

"Whatever. There are others who are going to understand that I'm still pretty young and trying to learn."